Customer Reviews

Eat Right For Your Type - Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I admit it: I was suspicious of this diet. Before examining this book, I thought the diet sounded very "fad-like" (and I remain wholly unconvinced by the personality-trait correspondences which are NOT essential to the scientific basis of the diet, just a curiosity). I read negative reviews and their justifications. What I noticed was that most of these reviews sounded a lot like the criticisms leveled at the Atkins diet, a diet that does work for a lot of people (though not all--this book makes clear why) that have since been disproven by double-blind studies. A number noted that d'Adamo's theories weren't backed up by scientific research. Fair enough; this book cites double-blind studies and peer-reviewed research extensively, far more so than the Eat Right and Cook Right books. It also fine-tunes some of the earlier findings. This is ongoing research, something you just don't see in proponents of "fad" diets. D'Adamo has clearly been listing to his critics, and makes every attempt to clarify, fine-tune, and explain how all of this works.

I picked this book--and the diet--up when I browsed it in the store and noted that the medical problems in my family charted almost exactly with the risk factors for blood type. (Blood type correlations with disease have actually been established in peer-reviewed medical journals for a long time, although they aren't much talked about.) I tried the diet. I'm about three weeks in. I've lost 10 pounds, my digestive problems are much improved, I feel more energetic, I don't crave sweets, and -- the most convincing thing for me, because I wasn't looking for it and therefore can't attribute it to the placebo effect -- the morning stiffness I've had for 30 years is gone. It takes at least a week for things to kick in--especially if one has increased intestinal permeability due to intestinal damage--but it does, and for many, myself included, the results are quite profound.

I am not a scientist, nor am I claiming that d'Adamo has everything right. There are some typos in the book, although most misprints are corrected on the website (www.dadamo.com)--hard to find, but worth looking. This is ongoing research, however. D'Adamo also uses that site to update new findings on food compatibility. I think this diet could easily be used in conjunction with others appropriate to type. For instance, type O people will do well with Atkins as long as they cut out the wheat gluten and dairy; people with food allergies may have to limit intake of more foods than he lists. He suggests 70-80% compliance works for most people.

Even the critics suggest that this diet isn't likely to harm anyone. I fully expect some version of this to be exonerated as fully as, if not more than, Atkins. In the meantime, this is a great resource, it's interesting reading even for the healthy, and it is more likely to engage a reader like myself who likes to see detailed scientific justification before jumping into a health plan.

Dr. Peter D'Adamo has written a very interesting adjunct to his superb book, Live Right 4 Your Type. If you have already read that earlier book, you will find this book adds to your knowledge by letting you know about the latest research about the statistical correlations of various diseases and illnesses to those with various blood types.

I wrote down the illnesses that I have more frequently than other people I know, and the diseases I have experienced before reading this book. I checked my experience against what the book reports, and found a high correlation (I have had two additional problems not typical of my Type O blood, and have not experienced three problems often associated with Type O people). I did the same for my wife, who has a different blood type, and found that her pattern reasonably closely matched what is described in the book as well. Then, the book has an excellent discussion of why people with each blood type can be affected differently by each illness or disease. You are also given extensive suggestions for herbal therapies that match your herb type. I have not had experiences with the herbs that were suggested for me, so I cannot comment on how relevant they are. If you already use herbs to improve conditions, you will probably adore this book. If you don't use many herbs, you will probably appreciate understanding more about the potential strengths and weaknesses of your blood chemistry. The book is quite thorough in providing articles you can read for more details, and where to access these articles on-line.

If you have not read Live Right 4 Your Type, you will find that this book covers almost the same background material but at a much higher level of abstraction. There is a fairly complete discussion of how blood types seem to have developed and what their chemical implications are. In other ways, the book is quite complete in similarity to the earlier ones. For example, you get the food indications for each blood type, essentially like the information in both Eat Right 4 Your Type and Live Right 4 Your Type.

Many people are skeptical about Dr. D'Adamo's work. I found him careful about what he had to say. For example, he notes that the risk charts in the book describe how blood type "in conjunction with other factors . . . may be [associated with] an increased risk for developing a certain disease."

As to the diseases and illnesses, I was impressed to see how much different cancers were broken down by the part of the body affected while different infections were also segmented.

I always find it helpful to keep the research-based associations to blood type in mind when I read other books about nutrition, health, and diseases. Perhaps someday other health authors will add this perspective to their work, as well. Until then, I am very grateful to Dr. D'Adamo for helping me understand how to make the most out of being a Type O person!

How can you turn your strengths and weaknesses into resources for improving the quality of your life . . . and those you care about?

Keep your mind and your body full of the most helpful resources you can add!

Peter D'Adamo has proven his expertise in the areas of food, nutrition and health in general. His previous books of the "well-known 4's" - "Eat Right", "Cook Right" and "Live Right" have become extremely popular and offer new insight into choosing the right foods based on your blood type. I have been following Peter's advice for years and as his books will reveal, "you are exactly what youe eat." His theories on how to improve one's health, energy and general feeling of well being are based on sound, reliable research.

This encyclopedia contains some of the information found in his previous books but he expands on his topics in greater detail. There is extremely helpful information provided on herbs and supplements for those who are into natural healing alternatives. The author also expands on various diseases and, with cancer being one of most-feared diseases, the information presented here was particularly informative and helpful. Whether it be cancer, diabetes or heart disease, most people probably worry about these life-threatening diseases at some point in their lives, particularly as we grow older. D'Adamo makes mention of various studies which support the claims he makes for his theories on various blood types.

This "Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia", like all of D'Adamo's other books, is highly recommended and worth far more than five stars in the rating. Thank you, Peter, for providing such enlightening reading material, which may ultimately help prolong our lives and improve the quality of our daily living.

This updated 2002 volume supercedes D'Adamo's original title ER4YT as it adds secretor/non-secretor practical information regarding food choices for those who wish to further refine their diet.
Set up in an alphabetically arranged encyclopedia format, the text covers topics that range from the anthropology of the blood types, the history of blood types in medicine, a listing of conditions and diseases with relation to blood type and food choices for all 4 types.
If you are an advocate of the ER4YT program, this book is a must as is the delightful cookbook, 'Cook Right For Your Type'. I have been on the program at the advice of my health care provider for over 2 months and have slimmed down without really dieting all while feeling a heck of a lot better. Referring to this book, the cookbook as well as the original ER4YT help keep you interested --- as boredom resulting from monotonous food choices seems to be one of my number one problems with staying with any program.

Having studied, tried, or heard about many "health diets" in the last 35 years, I have always wondered why distinguished health professionals would produce diets that were so contradictory to one other. After all, it's the same human body we're talking about, right?

This book is the most complete in a series of books that answers these questions in a way that passes scientific muster. Of course we are not all the same, but why?

The answer lies in the fact that we each have a unique genetic heritage that dictates how we react to the foods we eat. The basic premise of Dr. D'Adamo's book reflects current thinking on the anthropological origins of our various blood types, which, although similar, are different enough to provoke adverse reactions not only to each other, but to foods that share the chemical markers of those various blood types.

If I can sum up my experience with this book in one sentence, it is this: If thousands of years of history of Homo Sapiens can be seen as a long dance of adaptation between plants and animals, we would all do well to know what our genetic ancestors adapted to, and stick to it. This book will help you do just that!

Individuals new to the study of genetics may find the science in this book to be quite overwhelming, as well as the many pages of footnotes.

I say bring it on! To those who say this is pseudoscience: Give this book a try. You may just discover what foods make you feel, think, and look your best, and discover why at the same time!

This is a top medical reference in the alternative medicinal
area. The book discusses dietary implications based upon blood
types. For instance, Type A is the agrarian which is comfortable with grains and livestock. Blood type B people require a
balanced diet of meat and dairy. (B-Antigen) Type AB is the
modern man with an inherited tolerance of AB with enhanced
abilities to manufacture more antibodies. (A & B antigen)
The blood type is key to the immune system. Blood type 0
persons have no antigens. (Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies)
Type B people may have milk ; whereas, Type A people tend
to have systems which agglutinate and reject it.

The author mentions an Indican urine scale for bowel
putrification; wherein, the liver and intestines do not
metabolize proteins. Instead; they produce indols- toxic
byproducts on the Indican Scale. Foods with toxic Indicans
should be avoided. i.e. Bologna which magnifies nitrites

Lactin activity inflames the intestines, causes bloating and
slows food metabolism. Blood type O discourages the
metabolism of animal protein. This type person needs lean and chemical - free meat, fish and chicken. Wheat gluten slows the
metabolism and interferes with insulin efficiency.
Kelp, seafood,liver, kale, spinach,brocolli and red meat
are ideal for metabolism and weight loss/stabilization.
Bacon, ham, pork, American cheese, cheddar and ice cream
should be minimized. Soy may be utilized as a good alternate
to the dairy group. Flax oil and olive oil are beneficial.
Corn oil and peanut oil should be avoided. Type B persons
have stronger immune systems and may eat meat, green veggies,
eggs, liver, licorace tea and ginger. Type AB persons benefit
from TOFU, dairy , green veggies and millet.

Persons with sinusitis and Type B should avoid fenugreek.
Type O persons should avoid alfalfa. Type B persons react
badly to vaccines. Type A persons should avoid cayenne due
to potential nausea. Type O and B should avoid aloe vera juice.

This book contains a wealth of important dietary material.
It should be read carefully. The contents should be placed
in a daily diary for maximum benefit and systematic
measurement of progress. The book is worth the price.
I find the information content of this book nowhere else.
For this reason alone, the book should be purchased and
read carefully.

I suffer from serious food allergies and found that Dr. D'Adamos books are super helpful for me. Most everything he writes that Blood type 0 shouldn't eat is something that I have found the hard way (thru expensive blood testing and skin tests) is something I shouldn't eat. Now if I could only find a way to keep following what he tells me to do.
I highly recommend his books, Alice

I am blood type A. At the time when I started reading this book and trying the diet, I had been suffering from post-partum depression for 8 months. I felt miserable, my attitude was miserable and my family, friends and co-workers were paying the price. After being on the diet for a week, my mood began making a drastic change for the better and within a month, the post partum depression was gone. At that point I was actually able to bond with my baby for the first time. The large amount of fruits, vegetables, and soy (a way of eating that I had never thought of trying since I've grown up being a meat and potatoes girl) that the diet recommends did wonders.

I highly recommend this book, whether you are suffering from an illness or not, as a refreshing change from your current routine.

THIS WAS A VERY EDUCATIONAL BOOK. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY MY DOCTOR. I THINK THAT THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY OF THE BOOK IS GREATER THAN MANY PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY. IT REQUIRES MORE THAN A SINGLE READING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS. IT ALSO RECOMMENDS A LOT OF HERBAL REMEDIES OF VARIOUS CONDITIONS WHICH COULD BE A LITTLE COST PROHIBITIVE. THE DIET GUIDE WAS SIMPLE AND EASY TO FOLLOW BUT REQUIRED THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD GRASP OF THE BOOK'S CONCEPTS IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHY TO EXCLUDE FOODS FROM YOUR DIET. I ENJOYED THE BOOK AND WILL REREAD MUCH OF IT. I AM ALSO FOLLOWING MANY OF ITS GUIDELINES FOR EATING FOR MY BLOOD TYPE.

The book gives details on every food group for your blood type. You can look at all four blood types at a glance in the charts given. I just wish there was more information about how to tell if you were a non-secretor or a secretor. Otherwise, good book to have in your library. The husband and I have changed our eating to be according to our blood type as suggested, and within two weeks we could both feel a difference. More energy, less bloating or indigestion. It's a good book!